Apparatus for restoring the spent properties of charcoal



(No Model.)

a O. L. PORTER. APPARATUS FOR RBSTORING THE SPENT PROPERTIES OF CHARCOAL.

No. 391,335. Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

oHARLEs L. PORTER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR RESTORING THE SPENT PROPERTIES OF CHARCOAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,335, dated October 16, 1888.

Application filed December 17, 1887.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. PORTER, of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Restoring the Spent Properties of Charcoal, of which the following I is a full, clear, and exact description, that will 1 enable others to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a means for restoring animal or wood charcoal to its original condition after the same has been used in the manufacture of glycerine.

This apparatus is designed to be used in carrying out the process set forth in application No. 268,894..

The charcoal used in filtering glycerine absorbs and retains all the residue and foreign substance not wanted in the glycerine. Now by subjecting the spent charcoal to the treatment hereinafter set forth it is found that all the matter absorbed from the glycerine may be drawn out and the cleansing and purifying properties of the charcoal restored, so that it may again be used as a cleansing agent.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of an apparatus employed in carrying out my improvement; and Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the same in the plane 2, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a cylindrical boiler-like receptacle or retort which is set similar to that of the ordinary steamboiler; A, the masonry or walls inclosing the same; A the combustion-chamber; A, the grate-bars; and A*, the ash-pit.

B is the ordinary fire-front provided with the usual furnace and ash-pit doors, the front end of the receptacle A projecting beyond the eign matter absorbed.

Serial No. 258,174. (No model.)

into the steam-chamber a, from whence it passes into the receptacle compartment proper through the perforated diaphragm a. The

, pipe B is provided with the stop-valve a for opening and closing the steam-passage.- A

second steam-chamber, a is formed at the opposite end of the receptacle, the steam passing into the same through the perforated diaphragm a. This diaphragm is rigidly secu red to the removable receptacle-head G by means of a number of bolts, 1), so that when the head is taken off the diaphragm is also removed.

I) is a steam escape or exhaust pipe.

The dome O is provided with the removable cover b Above the receptacle and resting on the side walls of the inclosing masonry is the platform D, provided around the edge with the combing (1. This platform will ordinarily be composed of iron and will extend from wall to wall. In this case the products of combustion do not pass through the receptacle, but under and upward at the back end and then pass along underneath and heat the platform D, and finally escape through the smoke-flue D.

In the process of manufacturing glycerine the charcoal, after being used in filtering the same, is subjected to a water bath for the purpose of removing a part of the residue matter absorbed. The charcoal, after being drained from the water bath, is next thrown onto the platform D, and the receptacle or tank filled with the same through the dome G. A fire is then started under the receptacle and the charcoal subjected to a direct heat for the purpose of expelling the extraneous moisture and for- After the charcoal in the receptacle has become heated somewhat the valve a is opened and steam allowed to 40 line of the same, as shown in Fig. 1.

enter the receptacle. This steam, first pass- B is a steam-coil arranged in a horizontal j. ingthrough the furnace-coil B, is superheated position and located about midway between 1 before it enters and fills the chamber a in the the grate-bars and the underside of the recepback end of the receptacle, from whence the tacle. This coil covers the whole width and E steam is forced into the mass of charcoal length of the furnace (see Fig. 2) and is supi through the numerous perforatio'hs in the diaplied with steam through the pipe B which phragm a, which arrangement has the effect connects with some convenient steam-genera- I of separating the volume of steam into jets, so tor. The pipe 13*, leading from the opposite I that the same will more uniformly penetrate side of the coil, conducts the steam to the rear 5 and pass through the body of charcoal. Steam 50 end of the receptacle and discharges the same I under a high pressure may be used without LII being superheated; but the latter will do the work in less time and more efficiently, and for that reason is preferable. The water bath may be omitted, but it is better to use the same, as it greatly ShOl tens the process. The steam after passing through the body of charcoal enters the chamber a and escapes therefrom through the pipe I). This heating and steaming process continues until the steam escaping from the pipe'b is found to be perfectly dry. The fire should now be extinguished and the steam shut off. the process being completed and the original properties of the charcoal restored, so that it may be again utilized. The charcoal is taken out by removing the head or boiler end 0. The receptacle may then be recharged and the process repeated.

During the process of treating one charge in the receptacle a second charge may be deposited on the platform and heated to a greater orless degree, which will expedite and greatly facilitate the final process.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, isv In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with a boiler-like receptacle or retort, of a combustion chamber, a superheating stean1-coil located therein, a pipe connected to and supplying said coil with steam, a second pipe for conducting and discharging the superheated steam into the chamber a in the rear end of said receptacle, the perforated diaphragm a, the chamber a located in the opposite or front end of said receptacle, the perforated diaphragm a, and an escape pipe leading from the chamber a all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES L. PORTER.

\Vitnesses:

L. M. FREEMAN, L. B. COUPLAND. 

